TRS leaders may be showered with slew of Formation Day 'gifts'

Hyderabad: Come June 2, some of TRS leaders are likely to get Formation Day gifts in the form of posts such as Ministers, corporation chairpersons, whips and others.

According to sources, TRS Chief K Chandrashekar Rao is likely to give posts to the party leaders including MLAs on the occasion.

Sources said that quite a number of TRS legislators and senior leaders may get plum posts, some of them may secure positions like chairperson of Legislative Council, Ministers, Chief Whips, Whips, and others as chairpersons of State-owned Corporations, Boards and Commissions.

As per the numbers in the Assembly, the State government can have a total of 17 Ministers, including the Chief Minister. As of now, there are only 11 Ministers, including the Chief Minister, and hence there is scope for induction of six more Ministers.

Sources said that the Chief Minister has nearly completed the exercise relating to selection of legislators for Cabinet posts. The Chief Minister has to wait till Lok Sabha election results are announced on May 23.

Based on the results, he could effect one or two changes, if necessary, before going in for Cabinet expansion.

However, it would depend on the number of Congress legislators who would be switching over to TRS.

Already 11 Congress MLAs have deserted their party and have pledged their support to TRS and have declared that if needed they would resign and contest on the TRS ticket.

This factor too may be taken into consideration as far as choosing legislators for Cabinet berths. At present, there is no representation to women and STs in the Cabinet.

The Chief Minister had already indicated that not one, but two women would get berths in the Cabinet.

In this context, the names of Satyavathi Rathod, MLC, and former Minister Sabita Indra Reddy, who resigned from the Congress party and joined the ruling TRS party, are mentioned as probable candidates.

If Satyavathi Rathod is made a Minister, it would serve two purposes as there would be a woman and she belonged to ST.

It is learnt that Neti Vidyasagar Rao, who is Deputy Chairman of the Council, would get the post of Chairman.

The posts of Chief Whips in both the Houses, whips, chairpersons of Corporations, Boards and Commissioners are also likely to be filled during the State Formation Day, according to sources.